The Collie Knows

An occasional publication of Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois.

April, 2006

Short Notes

Donations
Rainbow Bridge
From the 'Net

News from Adopters

Nikki

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Recent Donations

We want to thank EVERYONE who has donated to CRI. The above mentioned were special requests. ALL donations, large or small are appreciated more than you will ever know. Without everyone's generous support, special medications, extensive medical procedures and Vet specialists would not be possible.

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Rainbow Bridge

Casey, Nellie, Penny, Dodger, Liam, Sampson, Burton, Tootsie, Harley, Savannah, Oliver, Kelsey.

You are gone but not forgotten. We will all meet once again on the Rainbow Bridge!

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From the 'Net:  

CPR For Your Companion Animal

By Michelle A. Rivera - MichelleRivera1@aol.com
American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2001-2002 National Pet Owners Survey.


There you are, walking along with your dog when suddenly he slips and falls into the river and drowns. Would you know what to do?

Or maybe you come upon a dog having just been injured in a canine vs. car accident and you want desperately to help. Would you know what to do?

There are approximately *68 million dogs and 73 million cats residing with American families. The majority of people with companion animals polled said that they consider their dog or cat a member of the family. Dogs and cats may find themselves in the water and unable to rescue themselves. They may be victims of a car vs. animal mishap or toxicity, suffocation or other injury, accidental or intentional. Pet CPR classes and workshops are now being offered around the country to help save the lives of the four-footed family members in their time of need.

Here is a brief primer on the A,B,C's of CPR for your dog or cat. Keep in mind that the following basic instruction is not intended to take the place of a visit to your veterinary clinic or pet emergency hospital, which should always be your first plan in an emergency. However, if treatment can be started on the scene or en route to an emergency veterinarian, a life may very well be saved.

Any animal, no matter how docile and sweet, can become fiercely protective of himself when in pain so your safety should be your first concern. Do not attempt CPR unless the animal is unconscious, both for safety and for the health of the animal. CPR should never be performed on a conscience, combative animal.

Airway: First: Call your pet's name to see if there is any response. If no response, carefully lean down close and look, feel and listen.

Look at the chest to see if there is a rise and fall, feel on your cheek or the back of your hand for breath coming from the nose or mouth, listen for breath sounds.

Breathing: If the animal is not breathing, pull the tongue out just a little, close the mouth and tilt their head back slightly to open the airway. Administer 4-5 breaths mouth to snout. That is, close their mouth and breathe into their snout through your mouth. If squeamish about this, cover the nose with a light tissue, gauze or other flimsy material. You want to breath out just enough to make the chest rise. Larger dogs will need more breath, little dogs and felines will need much less. Don't give too much or you will injure the lungs.

Circulation: Check to see if their heart is beating. Check for a heartbeat (pulse). The pulse points on a dog is on the inside of the rear leg, towards the top of the leg. This is the femoral pulse. For cats, the pulse point is on the outside of the left front leg, just behind the shoulder, this is the apical pulse.

If there is a pulse but no breathing, continue to perform mouth to snout resuscitation at the rate of 1 breath every 3 seconds. For small dogs or cats give 1 breath every two seconds. If there is no pulse, begin CPR.

For a dog, place the dog on the ground or other hard surface with his right side down. Bend the left front leg at the elbow, pushing the shoulder back. The point on the rib cage where the elbow touches the body is where you place your hands for compression. Place one hand over the other and clasp fingers together. Lock your elbows and perform compressions approximately 2-3 inches deep. Do compressions first, then a breath at the following rates:

Giant Dogs: 1 breath for every ten compressions, check for pulse
Small, medium and large dogs: 1 breath for every five compressions, check for pulse

For cats or toy breed dogs, the technique is a little different. Place the animal flat on the ground but place your hands on either side of the chest directly behind the shoulder blades. Your palms should be over the heart, sandwiching the animals' chest between both hands. Begin compressions at only ½-1 inch deep and give one breath for every three compressions, check for pulse.

For more information on pet cpr and first aid, visit www.animals101.com and follow the links for CPR or register for a cpr workshop.

If I Did Not Have Dogs

1. I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.

2. My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.

3. All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of Dog hair.

4. When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like the NCDL kennels.

5. When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through dog bodies who beat me there.

6. I could sit on the couch the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.

7. I would not have strange presents under my Christmas tree - like dog bones, stuffed animals or have to answer to people why I wrap them.

8. I would not be on a first name basis with three vets.

9. The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: "out", "sit", "down," "come," "no," "stay," and "leave him/her/it ALONE."

10. My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

11. My pockets would not contain things like poo bags, dog treats and an extra leash.

12. I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L or F-R-I-S-B-E-E or W-A-L-K.

13. I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.

14. I would not look strangely at people who think having their ONE dog ties them down too much.

15. I'd look forward to Spring and the melting of the snow instead of dreading "mud season".

16. I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so many dogs?" from people who will never have the joy in their life of knowing they are loved unconditionally by something as close to angel as they will ever get.

How empty my life would be... 

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News from adopters

Dear Collie Rescue,

We rescued Nikki almost three years ago, and he has turning to a pleasant surprise. My parents saw him at an event you had at PetSmart in Northbrook. They returned twice to see him and insisted on taking him home that night. He was very wary of men at first, but after I spent two hours just petting and rubbing him, he became latched onto me. From that first day, he has been my protector, every new person we meet, he insists on smelling and checking out before I say or do anything. 

It took him almost two and a half years to fully warm to our whole family. He was my dog for his first two years in our house, and when I went away to college, he sulked around outside my room. When I came back from school this summer, my parents couldn't wait to show me what a changed dog Nikki had become. We have two other dogs, both labs one 6 and the other 13. The 6 year old, Bailey is a bossy brut who yells (barks) at us anytime things don't go her way, and she always wants to play rough. Our elderly dog Daisy often falls when Bailey tries to play with her, so Nikki has begun to step in and stop the rough housing. 

In fact, Nikki has taken over as protector of the house. He has taken to sleeping in front of our door into the garage when we are not in, as it is the main door in and out of our house. And when we are home, he sleeps in the foyer so he knows where everyone is. He is also super social. I took him in to the vet to get his yearly check-up and he was everyone's favorite. Everyone in the waiting room went over to pet him and just loved all the attention. The vet even spent a little extra time just petting him and talking to him. His is in great health, even though he is a little over weight, and the vet says he is a happy, healthy dog. 

He has become a wonderful member of the family. He wakes me up by sitting on me and waving his furry tail in my face until I start laughing so hard I wake up. When we go down the stairs for the first time in the morning, he blocks the staircase untill we sit down and hug and pet him for a few minutes first. He is a wonderfuly adjusted dog that everyone adores as soon as they meet him. I am so amazed by his loyalty to our family and his desire to protect us. Thank you to everyone that had a hand in saving Nikki and for letting us enjoy his beautiful personality. 

Here are some links to pictures of Nikki:

He gets a little camera shy and puts on his sad face for the camera, but he and his two sisters have a forever home here and in our hearts.

Love and Many Thanks,
The Waters Family,
Jim,
Holly,
Chris,
Brittany (me)

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